The harem in the Ottoman Empire, often shrouded in mystery and intrigue, was a central institution that played a significant role in the social and political dynamics of the empire. The Imperial Harem, located within the Topkapi Palace, was not merely a secluded space for the sultan’s wives and concubines but a complex and hierarchical institution that wielded considerable influence. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of the Ottoman harem, exploring its structure, the lives of the women within it, and its impact on the empire’s governance and culture. By understanding the harem’s role, we gain deeper insights into the intricate workings of the Ottoman court and the broader societal norms of the time.
In the Ottoman Empire, the harem is known as Darüsaade, an area where only women lived. In addition to being the education and living area of high-ranking women, it has been a structure that has aroused curiosity throughout history. The harem is an important part of the daily life of the sultan and his family.
Harem in the Ottoman Empire
In the Ottoman Empire, the “harem”, originally known as “Darüs-saade”, has been a subject of curiosity for centuries. It has been a place surrounded by high walls since the 16th century, and it is an institution to which entry is forbidden except for certain male officers. When we add the hundreds of concubines inside, this institution becomes a complete mystery. In the face of this mysterious situation, many writers have often presented this institution as a place adorned with dreams and fantasies.People want to see the palaces where the rulers who ruled countries lived and learn what kind of life they lived in. Especially when it comes to the palaces where the Ottoman sultans who ruled over these three continents had hundreds of women in their harems, the sense of curiosity increases even more.
Harem in the Ottoman Palace
The harem, the section of the house where women lived, existed in past ages as well. When it comes to the Ottoman harem, the first thing that comes to mind is the Bursa Palace, about which there is very little information. Although there is a lot of information about the Bursa Palace in the Bursa register and sharia records, there is no information about its harem. However, the harems of the Ottoman lords living in Bursa were not much different from those in any Turkish house during this period.Edirne Palace, Topkapı Palace, Dolmabahçe and Yıldız Palaces continued to be places where the harem was defined both in terms of architecture and rules.In the harem, the sultan’s room is located in the center, and around it are the apartments of the mother sultans, women, princes, masters, apprentices and concubines.Until the 17th century, when the inheritance system changed, the harem population was recorded as small. However, as the princes began to live in the palace in cages, and the number of servants responsible for meeting their needs increased, there was an increase in the palace population. The poet Leyla Saz, who had close relations with the dynasty in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stated in her memoirs that “some Circassian women raised their daughters with lullabies about being in the sultan’s harem and living in splendor and diamonds.”In the Ottoman state organization, the term harem-i hümayun includes both the harem and the enderun. The enderun is an educational institution for the training of men who will serve the sultan, the palace and the state, while the harem is a residence and a place for the training of women. In this respect, the harem can also be called a high-level women’s academy. There is a promotion system here from the lowest level, concubine, to master.
The Issue of Slavery and Concubinage
There is no difference in meaning between the terms slave and concubine in terms of legal content. In Islam, male slaves are given the names rakik, abd, mamluk; female slaves are given the names rakike, mamluke and concubine. In our society, the general opinion understood by the term concubine is that all women in the harem with whom the Ottoman sultans had sexual relations are understood. However, it is not the case that the Ottoman sultans had such relations with all their concubines. Because they were also the caliphs of Islam, and the Quran states, “Marry those of you who are single, and those of your slaves and concubines who are in a suitable condition. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them by His grace. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Knowing”, which can be cited as a source for the fact that the sultans did not have sexual relations with all their concubines.
- Concubines
During the foundation period, Ottoman sultans took girls from surrounding principalities or dynasties as a policy and established kinship relations. During the expansion period, it became a tradition for Ottoman sultans and princes to choose their wives from among their concubines, with the exceptions of Osman II (1618–1622) and Sultan Abdülmecid (1839–1861).At first, concubines from the nations that were at war were taken to the palace. In fact, during the expansion period, since too many captives were taken, the beautiful and flawless ones were taken to the harem and the others were sold. When we come to the stagnation period, it is seen that this source of captives to the palace dried up. Instead, very rarely, girls taken captive by commanders were presented to the palace. Apart from these, in the recruitment of concubines to the palace, it was the state officials who presented the concubines they trained or bought to the palace and the customs officer who took the concubines and presented them to the palace.
Generally, concubines were divided into three groups. These were:
- Concubines taken for service: They were generally older and beautiful women taken to perform palace services. After serving for 9 years, these people could leave the palace if they wanted, just like journeymen and masters, in other words, they were given a certificate of emancipation.
- Concubines bought for sale: These were girls who were expected to grow more beautiful when they were between the ages of 5 and 7. If they grew more beautiful as they got older, they were taught how to play a musical instrument, speak beautifully, and how to seduce men, and they were put up for sale. Young women were trained not only to provide suitable concubines for the sultan and courtiers for his mother and other leading harem women, but also to provide suitable wives for men near the top of the military/administrative hierarchy.
- Concubines called odalisques: These were the most beautiful and expensive of the concubines.
These concubines were admitted to the palace after being checked. Girls who were heavy sleepers, had smelly feet, or snored could not enter the palace harem.
The concubines taken into the harem were first given new names based on their physical characteristics. These names were given by the sultan and pinned to their chests so that everyone would memorize and remember them. The concubines taken into the harem were trained by apprentices. Since they were Muslims, they had to read the Quran.
The concubines who were accepted into the harem as servants and their duties were as follows:
- Journeymen, Their Duties and Apprenticeships
Kalfa is a term used for concubines who served in palaces and mansions. These were people who had overcome their inexperience and gained the necessary experience. They were given as servants to the sultan, valide sultan, ikbal, haseki and prince’s offices according to their beauty and workmanship. Since they were interested in the education of the concubines, they were all literate. However, if the sultan liked the morality and the person of a foreman, he could take this foreman as his haseki.
One of the important duties of the journeymen was the room and food shifts. The great journeyman did not do the heavy work. The journeymen would keep a weekly apartment shift with the slave women. On Thursday, they would clean the entire apartment, which was called Thursday cleaning. On Friday, the journeyman would hand over the shift to the next journeyman and rest until his turn came.
Again, for a week, journeymen would keep watch over the food. They would receive the food from the tray bearers who brought the food to the apartments they were assigned to and distribute it to the tables. The task of cleaning the tables and washing the pots was the job of the novice concubines.
With the change of the sultan, the journeymen would also become the servants of the new sultan. Only the treasurer, master and clerks would leave the palace and go to the old palace. Among the journeymen, those who did not receive the favor of the sultan would also be sent to the old palace. The journeymen who completed their service period would also be sent to the old palace, but some of them could stay in the palace if they wanted.
If journeymen who had been trained as novices wanted to go out and get married, their wishes were taken into consideration and this was called apprenticeship of journeymen. On holidays or holy nights, they would write on a piece of paper, “The servant’s wish is our master’s favor”, sign the bottom and put it somewhere visible. In order not to be seen by his master again, he would lock himself in his room. Thereupon, his master would have his dowry made, give the necessary silver and when a suitable fortune came, he would marry him off.
- The Imperial Journeymen (Masters – Regular Concubines)
The highest rank that the female personnel of the harem could rise to was the rank of serving the sultan, which was called the sultan’s foreman or masters, and regular concubines. They dealt with the daily work of the sultan. These sultan’s foremen also had ranks among themselves according to their work. We can explain these as follows:
A) Hazinedars and Hazinedar Usta: Women who performed the private and personal services of the sultan were called Hazinedar. The term sultan’s apprentices is used especially for them. Their leaders were called Hazinedar Usta or Chief Hazinedar. The heads of the women who had the status of servants in the harem were also these people. They dressed simply and elegantly. As long as the sultan was in the harem, they would also be in the Sultan’s Chamber. The Chief Hazinedar could sit next to the sultan and could enter and exit the room. However, the other treasurers could only come into the presence of the sultan by being summoned. The third, fourth and fifth treasurers would stand guard in front of the sultan’s chamber with the apprentices. The chief treasurer had the keys to all the treasuries in the harem. On official days, they would wear the golden cord and imperial seal around their necks, indicating that they commanded all the concubines and that sacrifices were made in their name on Eid al-Adha. Since they were the closest to the sultans, when a new sultan came to power, he would re-select those closest to him, and the old treasurers would be apprenticed or sent to the old palace. It is important to note that sometimes these treasurers were chosen from among the wealthy.
B) Kethüda Kadın: Although she had no family ties to the Sultan, the kethüda hatun was also included among the family elite in the harc-ı hassa registers in the second decade of the 17th century. She was the ceremonial lady of the harem. In other words, she organized and showed the place for all the ceremonies held at weddings and festivals in the harem. Carrying a silver staff indicates her duty. She kept the imperial seal with her to seal the items in the Sultan’s chambers.
C) Chef Chef Master: This is the name given to the masters who provide table services. He has concubines and apprentices working under his command. They were the first to taste the food prepared for the Sultan and the Prince to check if it was poisonous or not.
D) Laundry Master: This is the name given to the master who looked after the palace laundry and bedding. The journeymen and concubines working under him were called laundry masters. The first washerwoman was encountered during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim.
E) Master Ibriktar: In the past, since there was no city water, those who looked after the basins and jugs, helped the sultan wash his hands and face, held a towel for him and performed his ablution were called Ibriktar and their leaders were called Ibriktar Master.
F) Coffee Shop Master: This is the name given to the people who deal with coffee business in the harem. The sultan’s coffee shop owners had their own symbols and badges that they wore on their chests.
G) Master Cellarer: The Sultan’s cellar.
Conclusion
The harem in the Ottoman Empire was far more than a symbol of luxury and seclusion; it was a pivotal institution that shaped the political and cultural landscape of the empire. The women of the harem, particularly the Valide Sultan and other influential figures, played crucial roles in state affairs, diplomacy, and the patronage of arts and architecture. The legacy of the Ottoman harem continues to captivate historians and enthusiasts, offering a unique window into the complexities of Ottoman society. By examining the harem’s history, we can better appreciate its enduring impact on the empire and its lasting influence on modern perceptions of Ottoman culture.